Method and apparatus of decorating a surface of an article

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for automatically decorating a surface of an article such as ceramic ware by direct unimpeded deposit thereon of a thick flowable composition material such as a glaze composition. An article surface is pressed into engagement with a mold face having openings therein defining a desired pattern for deposit of the composition material, the openings communicating with a manifold cavity which contains flowable composition material and is in communication with a supply source of such material. In initial position the article surface is above the mold face and manifold cavity and composition material held in the cavity. The article surface and mold face are then vertically reversed in position while retaining sealed contact to cause gravitational flow of the composition material to the openings in the mold face for direct flow of the composition material into contact with the article surface. After a predetermined time, the article and mold member are returned to their original position and excess composition material is removed from the article surface by flowing therefrom. The amount of composition material deposited on the article surface in the pattern defined by the mold face openings depends upon characteristics of the article surface and composition material. An apparatus for automatically performing the steps of pressure engagement of the article face and mold face, reversal of position of the two faces while in pressure engagement, and the return to initial position of the mold face and article face in preselected timed relation to provide desired application or deposition of glaze composition material in a desired pattern on the article surface.

United States Patent [191 MacDonald et al.

[4 1 May 27, 1975 METHOD AND APPARATUS OF DECORATING A SURFACE OF ANARTICLE [75] Inventors: William E. MacDonald, Los

Angeles; Robert C. Harris, Jr., Glendale, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: lnterpace Corporation, Los Angeles,

Calif.

22 Filed: Oct. 19, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 408,200

[52] U.S. Cl. 118/406; 101/163; 118/7; 118/213; 118/427; 118/500 [51]Int. Cl. B05c 3/109 [58] Field of Search.....-.. 118/406, 427, 500, 7,211, 118/213, 301; 117/38; 425/94, 104, 105; 101/124, 163

Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Assistant Examiner-Douglas SalserAttorney, Agent, or FirmEdward F. Jaros [57] ABSTRACT A method andapparatus for automatically decorating a surface of an article such asceramic ware by direct unimpeded deposit thereon of .a thick flowablecomposition material such as a glaze composition. An article surface ispressed into engagement with a mold face having openings thereindefining a desired pattern for deposit of the composition material, theopenings communicating with a manifold cavity which contains flowablecomposition material and is in communication with a supply source ofsuch material. In initial position the article surface is above the moldface and manifold cavity and composition material held in the cavity.The article surface and mold face are then vertically reversed inposition while retaining sealed contact to cause gravitational flow ofthe composition material to the openings in the mold face for directflow of the composition material into contact with the article surface.After a predetermined time, the article and mold member are returned totheir original position and excess composition material is removed fromthe article surface by flowing therefrom. The amount of compositionmaterial deposited on the article surface in the pattern defined by themold face openings depends upon characteristics of the article surfaceand composition material. An apparatus for automatically performing thesteps of pressure engagement of the article face and mold face, reversalof position of the two faces while in pressure engagement, and thereturn to initial position of the mold face and article face inpreselected timed relation to provide desired application or depositionof glaze composition material in a desired pattern on the articlesurface.

16 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENIEB HAYZ 71975 SHEET PATENTEU MAY 271975 SHEET PATENTEU MAY 2 7 I975 SHEET ETX V m mgnmmms 3; 885,522

euf 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS OlF DECORATING A SURFACE OF AN ARTICLEBACKGROUND OF INVENTION Decoration of surfaces of ceramic ware such asdinnerware, ceramic tile, and other ceramic articles by various methodsis well known. Such prior methods of decoration have includedapplication of under and over colorant compositions, either with orwithout patterns or designs; decalcomanias, paper transfers, stamping,printing, stenciling, hand painting, and the application of liquiddecorative material to a ceramic surface by hand bulbing.

In the method of decorating by hand bulbing, a dinner plate for example,was supported upon a rotating table, the surface to be decorated wasstamped with the desired design or pattern. The areas delineated by thestamped design pattern were then covered by manually squeezing a bulbwith a ported bulb stem to flow a colorant composition from the bulbstern onto a selected area on the ceramic surface in a sequentialmanner. As the operator progresses from one area to another, the ceramicware was capable of being moved on the rotatable table to facilitatesuch hand bulbing decorating process.

Such hand bulbing of dinnerware was time consuming, tedious, and wasbasically piece work. The number of pieces of dinnerware decoratedwithin a particular time period depended upon the skill, care anddexterity of the operator. Standards for such decoration requiredsubstantial uniformity of the patterns of a set of dinnerware which mayinclude from four to 12 pieces of dinnerware of the same size andpatterns such as a dinner plate. Since the market demands thousands ofpieces of dinner plate, it is readily apparent that the method ofdecorating dinnerware by hand bulbing provides extreme limitations onthe number of pieces which can be decorated within a selected timeperiod. In order to meet the market demand for certain dinnerwarepatterns, many operators are required for hand bulbing decorating withthe result that labor costs are very high.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel method andapparatus for decorating the surface of an article such as a dinnerplate by an automatic controlled machine capable of accomplishing thesame results as hand bulbing. The automatic machines require minimalattention by an operator and a single operator may attend to three ormore machines depending upon the time period of an overall cycle of themachine. The present invention provides an automatic machine which iscapable of flowing a colorant composition material onto a select patternin a rapid accurate manner and without the possibility of defects orerrors in the pattern design which, in the hand bulbing operation, maybe caused by carelessness or lack of dexterity of the operator.

The primary object of the invention therefore is to provide a method andapparatus for decorating the surface of an artiicle such as ceramic wareto provide a result similar to decoration by hand bulbing.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel method of decoratingthe surface of an article wherein decorative composition material iscaused to virtually simultaneously flow upon the entire article surfaceto be decorated in accordance with a preselected pattern.

An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus forapplying a decorative composition material to a surface of an article ofceramic ware wherein a pattern defining means is pressed against thesurface to afford sealed pattern areas, the article and pattern definingmeans being turned about an axis into a position where gravitationalflow of decorative material almost simultaneously and uniformly contactssealed-off pattern defined areas to deposit a selected amount of suchmaterial thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for applying to an article surface a relatively thick applicationof decorative material on an area of the surface of the article to bedecorated.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for automatically decorating a surface of ceramic ware whereinpattern defining means are provided by a novel member which is engagedunder pressure with the article surface to be decorated.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for decorating an article surface wherein a mold membercontaining colorant composition material for application to said surfaceis in communication with a supply of such composition material tofacilitate continuous operation of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor deposition of a decorative colorant material on a surface of ajigger mold or the like to produce an inlay in the finished ceramicware.

Generally speaking, the apparatus of this invention includes meansproviding a source of colorant composition material which is incommunication with cavities or chambers in a mold member which serve asa reservoir of composition material to be applied to an article surface.The cavities in the mold member communicate with openings on a moldface, the edges of the openings defining a pattern for deposition of thecomposition material. The relative positions of te article surface andthe mold member are reversed so that the composition material in themold cavity flows by gravitation onto the article surface as defined bythe pattern edges of the openings. Depending upon the porosity of theceramic ware and the viscosity of the decorative material and itscomposition, the article surface and mold member are held and maintainedin such position for a selected time period to provide penetration ofthe com position material in the article surface, if porous, orsufficient deposition thereon, if non-porous, so that when the articlesurface and mold member are returned to their original position adesired amount of decorative composition material is retained on thearticle surface. The changing of position of the mold member and articlesurface drains excess composition material away from the surface area tobe decorated and the excess composition material may flow into areceptacle containing the supply of composition material.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following description of the drawings in whichan exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of an exemplaryapparatus embodying this invention, the apparatus being shown in open orplate receiving position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by lineIIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the ram shown in FIG. 1, the viewbeing taken in the plane indicated by line IIIIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in the planesimilar to that of FIG. 2 and showing a plate carried on the moldmember, the phantom lines indicating the closed or down position of theram.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of FIG. 2showing rotation of the ram, plate, and mold member through 180 toreverse or invert the position of the apparatus shown.

FIG. 6 is another fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in the planeof FIG. 2 showing the mold member, plate and ram returned to itsoriginal vertical relationship.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged framgentary sectional view taken in the planesindicated by line VII-VII of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the planeindicated by line VIIIVIII of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the same planeas that of FIG. 8 and showing the pressure sealed engagement of the moldmember, plate, and ram.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken in the same planeas that of FIG. 7 showing the mold member, plate, and ram in theinverted position of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a mold member, theview being taken from the plane indicated by line XIXI of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the mold membertaken in the plane indicated by line XII-XII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a plate having asurface upon which glaze composition has been applied in accordance withthis invention.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the plate shown in FIG. 13,the view being taken in the plane indicated by line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating timed operation ofthe apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating pneumatic operable means forthe apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane similar to thatof FIG. 10 and illustrating a modification of the method and apparatusof this invention.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane similar to thatof FIG. 17 and illustrates still another modification of this invention.

Apparatus 20 embodying this invention generally includes a framestructure 21, a rotatable article support frame 22 which carries on oneside of the axis of rotation 23 a mold member 24 in communication withflowable composition material in containers 25. On the opposite side ofaxis 23 the article support frame carries a ram means 26. At one side ofthe article support frame 22 is a housing 27 for control instrumentationand for operable means of pneumatic type as fully described inconnection with FIG. 16.

v Article support frame 21 may comprise a base member 30 attached bysuitable means, not shown, to a floor surface 31. Spaced uprightstandards 32 are connected to base member 30, one of said standards 32forming part of housing 27. Adjacent the top of each standard 32 isprovided a bearing means 33 for rotatably mounting article support frame22 about axis 23.

Article support frame or carrier 22 may comprise an open rectangularframe including side members 35, a top member 36, and a bottom U-shapedmember 37 lying in a plane normal to the side members 35 and opening tothe front of the apparatus as indicated in FIG. 1. The U-shaped member37 of angle section provides a support for a removable plate 39. Plate39 may be attached to member 37 by suitable fastening means such asclamps, not shown. Plate 39 supports mold member 24 and containers 25 aslater described.

On the opposite side of axis 23, article support frame 22 provides atthe central portion of top member 36 a support for cylinder 41 of rammeans 26. The axis of cylinder 41 lies in the plane of side members 35and normal to plate 39. Cylinder 41 is provided with air pressure lines42 at opposite ends thereof and positively projects and retracts apiston rod 43 carrying within frame 22 a ram head 44.

Ram head 44 has attached to its downwardly directed circular face 45 aresilient yieldable pad of suitable foamlike material. Resilient pad 46is provided with a central opening 47 and diametrical slots 48 leadingfrom said opening to the outer circumference of pad 46 to permit escapeof trapped air between an article and the pad 46 as later described. Pad46 may be of uniform thickness and have a planar downwardly directedface interrupted by the radially extending slots 48 and the centralopening 47.

Plate 39 which is releasably carried by U-member 37 on the articlesupport frame 22 may be made of any suitable material and of suitablethickness capable of supporting containers 25 filled wtih a thickflowable composition material. Plate 39 may be made of metal, wood or atransparent heavy plastic material such as lucite or plexiglass.

On one face of plate 39 mold member 24 may be secured thereto as at 51by suitable adhesive material. Mold member 24 may be made of suitableflexible elastomeric rubber-like materials such as polysulfide rubber,plastosol, natural rubber and the like. Dow Corning silicone rubber,Type G, Type E and Ren Plastics polyurethane No. 7040 arespecificexamples of materials which may be used to provide mold member 24. Moldmember 24, which may also be referred to as a decorating head, includessignificant features which contribute to the operability of thisinvention and apparatus. Mold member 24 comprises a generallycylindrical central body portion 52 having a bottom end wall 53 ofrelatively thick section and providing an end face for securement to andseating on the plate 39. The opposite end of the body portion 52 has aconvex surface configuration 54 which generally corresponds to thesurface 55 of an article 56 such as a dinner plate whose surface 55 isto be decorated. The surface configuration 54 of the mold member 52 mayvary in configuration depending upon the configuration of the articlesurface to be decorated. It is desirable that there be a relativelyclose match between the two configurations of article surface and moldmember surface to assure tight sealing relation therebetween as laterdescribed.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 13, the cylindrical body portion 52 of moldmember 24 is provided with a plurality of cavitities or chambers 60 and61 (FIG. 12). Chamber 60 is of spiral form beginning at its outerperipheral end 62 and terminating at its internal end 63. Similarly,chamber 61 has an outer end 64 and spirals inwardly to an inward end 65.As exemplarily shown in FIG. 7 the chambers 60 and 61 are defined byinternal spirally configured walls 66 and 67, said walls 66 and 67joining at the interior end walls of the chambers at 63 and 65. As shownin FIG. 7 the walls 66, 67 extend upwardly from the base wall 53 and arejoined together adjacent their upper ends by webs 69. As best seen inFIG. 11, webs 69 define a plurality of spirally arranged openings 70 tochambers 60 and 61, the openings 70 defining the shape or design of thepattern to be applied to the dinner plate 56 as generally illustrated inFIG. 13. The convex configuration of the decorating head 24 and thepattern defined thereby is formed by the edge faces of the chamberdefining walls 66, 67 and the outer cylindrical peripheral wall of thebody portion 52 and the edge faces 71 of the webs 69. The openings 70thus defined, provide direct communication with the chambers 60 and 61although as best seen in FIG. 12 the chambers 60 and 61 are separate andindependent so that they may carry composition material of differentcolor or of different characteristics without intermingling thereof. Itis important to note that webs 69 have sufficient thickness andsufficient depth so that the edge faces 71 thereof will have sufficientdimensional stability and resiliency to provide sealing engagement withthe article surface 55 when it is pressed thereagainst.

Each mold cavity or chamber 60, 61 is supplied with a flowable orpartially liquid semi-viscous slurry-like colorant composition materialfrom a receptacle or container 75 on the opposite side of plate 39.Container 75 may be of suitable volume and may be made of a plasticcollapsible non-rigid material. Container 75 includes a container neck76 having external threads 77 thereon which engage threads on a cap 78which may be embedded in a recess 79 in plate 39 and secured thereto bysuitable adhesive or bonding as at 80. Cap 78 has an axial port 81through which a rigid tube or stand pipe extends, said pipe 82 passingthrough plate 39 and into mold member 24 and into its respective chamber60, 61. The end 83 of stand pipe 82 extends above the base wall 53 anddetermines the level of colorant composition material in chamber 60, 61when the apparatus is in initial non-application position. It will beapparent that container 75 may be readily removed from plate 39 byunscrewing the container and the supply of flowable composition materialherein replenished so that desired quantities of composition materialwill be available to the mold member 24.

To prevent lateral collapse of container 75 when the collapsible type ofreceptacle is used, a cylindrical wall 85 may be secured to plate 39 tomaintain a suitable length portion of container 75 in axial relationshipwith the stand pipe 82. Cylindrical wall 85 also serves to relievestrain upon the threaded connection of the neck of container 75 to thecap 78 which is retained by plate 39. Thus cylindrical wall 85 serves toassist in supporting the container 75 when the article support frame isrotated to reverse the relative vertical positions of the colorantcomposition supply and the mold member and dinner plate positionedthereon.

As indicated in FIG. 1 and 12 two of such supply containers 25 areillustrated. The other container is indicated with reference numeralswith a prime sign for like parts. In FIG. 12 stand pipe 82 communicateswith chamber 61 in the same manner as that described hereinabove withrespect to stand pipe 82.

It will be understood that while only two containers are shown, one ormore containers may be used, each container communicating with itsrespective cavity or chamber in the mold member which serves as amanifold for rapidly and virtually simultaneously conducting flowablecomposition material to the openings defined by the walls of the chamberand the webs between the walls which define the pattern or design to beplaced upon the article surface. While two generally concentric spiralsare shown, other designs which have been applied to dinnerware by thismethod have included floral designs having five different colorantmaterial. Thus it will be apparent that the construction of the moldmember with the desired number of separate independent cavities orchambers together with openings to said chambers which are configured inaccordance with the design to be applied to the article surface may bereadily constructed and fabricated for use with this invention.

The method of making such a mold member 24 may include any well knownmethod in which the cavities and openings thereto may be formed by wax,plaster, or low melting metal which define the internal passages and arethen removed at a later process stage.

Referring again to FIG. 7, mold member 24 also includes an annularflange 86 extending radially outwardly'from body portion 52 in spacedrelation to the convex mold surface 54. The outer peripheral edge ofannular flange 86 includes an upturned annular rib 87 having an innerdiameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the dinner plate 56being decorated. Upturned annular rib 87 is concentric with the axis ofthe mold member and the cylindrical body portion and serves to center incoaxial relation the dinner plate 56 when it is placed in invertedposition over the mold member 24.

As mentioned above, mold member 24 is made of a flexible relatively softelastomeric material. To resiliently support annular flange 86, a ringor toroidal body 89 of resilient foam-like material is placed betweenthe upper surface of support plate 39 and the bottom surface of annularmoldflange 86. The height dimension of resilient body 89 is such thatflange 86 is supported in a position so that when dinner plate 56 isinitially placed upon mold member 24 as shown in FIG. 7, the articlesurface 55 to be decorated is spaced a selected distance above theconvex mold surface, an exemplary distance at the axis of the moldmember and dinner plate being about one-quarter inch. At the peripheraledges of the cylindrical body portion 52 of the mold member the convexconfiguration of the mold member is formed so that the space between thearticle surface 55 and the cylindrical wall of the mold member may beabout five/sixteenths of an inch. The difference in spacing between thecenter of the mold member and the peripheral edge of the mold memberfrom the article surface facilitates escape of air t'herebetween duringthe ram pressure engagement operation and also facilitates separation ofthe mold member and dinner plate after the composition material has beendeposited on the dinner plate as later described. It will be apparentthat the annular resilient body 89 resiliently supports the plate insuch spaced relation in its initial position and is capable of yieldingas indicated in FIG. to provide pressure sealing engagement between thearticle surface and the mold member.

In this example of the invention, resilient annular body 89 isillustrated as being made of a resilient open cellular foam typematerial. Other resilient yieldable means may be used such as a coilspring having a selected compression-deflection characteristic. Whilethe annular peripheral rib 87 provides a convenient centering device forthe dinner plate 56, in the event articles of different shape such as aceramic tile are to be decorated, other types of alignment means may beemployed such as guide or register walls and pins.

As mentioned above, the resilient support body 89 is of open cellularconstruction to permit flow of air from the space between the dinnerplate and the mold member, such air being in communication with the body89 through a vent port 91 formed in the annular flange 86.

In this example dinnerware plate 56 is described as being an unfiredgreen ware of ceramic composition. Article 56 may be a fired ceramicbody, may be porous or non-porous, may be a flat, square, or rectangulartile body of ceramic material having a glazed or non-glazed surface towhich the decorative material is to be applied, or may be any otherarticle having a planar surface to be decorated or a three dimensionalsurface to be decorated. Depending upon the surface configuration of thearticle, mold member 24 will be prepared and fabricated to have asurface corresponding to the surface to be decorated with variation toprovide spacing differential noted above.

In this example, a flowable composition material has been described fordeposit upon the article surface 55 of the dinner plate 56. Such acomposition material may comprise suitable colorants to produce thedesired design when fired, and may comprise a regular slip, coloredengobes or glazes, and may create a raised pattern either for functionalor decorative purposes. The flowable composition material may includethixotropic materials. The viscosity of the flowable material willdepend upon the characteristics of the surface to be decorated and mayvary somewhat depending upon this condition. However, the compositionmaterial should be flowable and its viscosity may be selected so as todeposit a coating of selected thickness on the surface of the article tobe decorated. In the patterns to be applied to dinnerware, it has beenfound desirable that the composition material be relatively thick andthe method of this invention is particularly adapted to the flowableapplication of thick deposits of colorant composition material on thesurface of a porous ceramic green ware or bisque body.

Generally speaking, operation of the apparatus embodying this inventionincludes filling and attaching containers of selected colorantcomposition material to the support plate 39 and placing such containersin communication with the cavities in the mold member carried thereby bythreading the containers into the caps retained in plate 39. Supportplate 39 is then assembled with and secured on base member 37 of thearticle support frame (FIG. 1). The ram means 26 is in retractedposition and spaced above the mold member 24. An article to be decoratedsuch as dinner plate 56 is then placed upon mold member 24 with theperipheral edges of the plate supported upon the resilient and springsupported annular flange of the mold member. Ram means 26 then descendsso that the resilient foam pad 46 on the ram head is pressed against theback face of dinner plate 56 with sufficient force so that the annularflange 86 is depressed and article surface 55 of the plate is broughtinto pressure sealing engagement with the mold face of mold member 24.The edge faces of the mold walls 66, 67 and webs 69 thus definesealedoff areas on the article surface 55 to which the colorantcomposition material is to be applied. After a selected period of timeas later described, the article support frame 22 is rotated 180 degreesto invert the former vertical relationship of the ram means and the moldmember as well as the relationship between the mold member and thedinner plate 56. Upon such reversal (FIG. 10), composition materialwhich was contained in the reservoir below the level of the stand pipe82 (FIG. 7), is caused to flow in cavities 60, 61 directly and almostsimultaneously to all of the sealed-off areas of the article surface.Additional composition material is supplied from the container by flowthrough the stand pipe 82. As noted in FIG. 10 the cavities 61, 62become partly filled with the composition material and the compositionmaterial is in direct contact with the article surfaces to be decorated.Since air space is provided above the level of composition material inthe position shown in FIG. 7, upon inverting of the apparatus and flowof material to the article surface, such air is readily displaced intothe upper portion of the chamber as shown in FIG. 10. The level ofcolorant material in the chamber is again determined by the position ofthe stand pipe 82.

After a selected time period depending upon the thickness of thecomposition material and the porosity or non-porosity of the articlesurface, the article support frame is turned back to its originalposition in which the composition material is caused to drain from thecavities 61, 62 into the container 75 and into the bottom portion of thecavities to the level of the top of the stand pipe 82 as shown in FIG.'7. Upon return to initial position and after excess colorant materialis removed from the pattern areas, the ram means is retracted. Uponrelease of the article mold holding pressure force, the resilientsupport flange 86 and its spring supporting annular foam member 89 liftsthe dinner plate free from the mold surface. Such lifting is faciliratedby the free air flow through the member 89, vent 91, and into the spacebetween the dinner plate and the annular flange 86. Since the peripheraledge of the cylinder walls of the body portion 52 were spaced slightlygreater than the center of the mold member from the center of thearticle surface of the plate, the return flow of air into the spaceabove the colorant composition material in the chamber 60, 61 isfacilitated. Retention of the plate on the mold member because ofpressure differential such as vacuum or suction as a result of thedisplacement of the liquid is thereby prevented and eliminated.

The operator may then manually remove the dinner plate 56 from the moldmember and place it on a suitable rack for drying. The deposit areas ofcolorant composition material will appear on the article surface asindicated in FIG. 13. The thickness of the deposit will depend upon theporosity of the ceramic ware and the thickness or viscosity of thecolorant composition material together with the length of time duringwhich the composition material was permitted to be in contact with thearticle surface. Depending upon the type of colorant compositionmaterial, during firing, the deposited colorant material may flow towardthe adjacent colorant deposit so as to blend together adjacent colorantdeposits in an attractive fanciful manner.

In the detailed operation of the apparatus, each of the above steps ofthe process is selectively automatically timed. An operator manuallyperforms only the functions of placing the dinner plate on the moldmember, pressing the start button on the machine, and then removing theplate after the machine has performed its cycle. In FIG. the primarycircuit leads 100, 102 are provided an on-off switch 101 to energize theactuating means of the apparatus. Current is provided by closing lineswitch 101, closing start button 103 to energize in sequential relationa crack-check timer 104, a deposit timer 105, and an end dwell timer106. Timers 104, I05 and 106 are of well known type and are illustratedschematically within rectangular dash-like boxes.

When starter button 103 is closed, a circuit is completed to the clutchsolenoid 108 of the timer 104 through line 109 and normally closedswitch 110 of the timer 106 and through line 111 to the bottom end ofcoil 108. The other end of coil 108 is connected by line 112 to mainline 102. Line 111 at the lower end of coil 108 is also connected roline 114 and to a normally closed switch 115 which energizes timingmotor 116 of timer 104. After a preselected time delay of for example, 5seconds, timing motor 116 actuates normally open switch 117 to a closeposition. The purpose of the timer 104 is to provide sufficient time forthe ram means 26 to move downwardly into pressure engagement with theplate on the mold member and to move the plate into sealing engagmentwith the mold mem her. The time is also sufficient to determine whetherthe green ware plate placed upon mold member 24 is fractured under thepressure of the ram means. In the event a crack is developed in thegreen ware, it will be apparent that inverting the mold member and ramso that the composition material will flow onto the cracked green wallwill be very undesirable because colorant composition material will flowthrough the crack onto the ram head and splatter over the rest of theequipment.

Also during this initial crack check timing period it will be apparentfrom the circuit diagram that energization of the coil 108 will closenormally open switches 119 and 120, switch 119 providing current flowfrom line 121 connected with the lead 100 ahead of the start button 103.When switch 119 is closed, line 122 conducts current to switch 117 whichwhen closed by the timer 104 will provide current flow through lines 123to the timer 105.

In addition, when coil 108 is energized and switch 120 is moved toclosed position, current flow is provided from line 100 through line 125to switch 120 and then through line 126 to line 127 which is connectedwith the air cylinder solenoid valve 128 which actuates the ram means26. The ram head is thus caused to descend into pressure engagement withthe plate to press the plate against the mold member 24. A microswitch129 located on the housing 27 is engaged by the carriage 22 and moved toopen position when the carriage is in its initial or down position. Uponturning of the article support frame 22 about axis 23. switch 129 ismoved to closed position so that the ram means 26 will maintain thepressure engagement throughout the cycle until the article support plateis returned to its initial position and microswitch 129 is moved to openposition by the carrier 37.

As mentioned before, the article support frame does not immediatelycommence rotation upon the closing of the start button 103. After thetimer 104 has actuated switch 117, the current flow enters timer throughleads 131 and normally closed switch 132 to energize timer motor 133 tocause the timer 105 after a selected time period of, for example 60seconds, to open switch 132 to de-energize timing motor 133. At the sametime, switch 134 which in normal position provided current through line136 to the solenoid valve 137 for actuating the means for turning thesupport frame about its axis 23 is caused to open the circuit to the airvalve 137 and close the: circuit through line 138 to the timer 106.Timer 106 is now energized by the normally closed switch 139 and timingmotor 140 after a selected time period of perhaps 30 seconds is actuatedto open switch 139 to de-energize the timing motor and to also openswitch 110 which opens the circuit to the timer 104 and the timing motor116. The end dwell timer 106 provides a time period after the articlesupport frame has been returned to its initial position with the glazecomposition below the article surface 55 for draining or removal ofexcess glaze composition material from the pattern defining openings andto return such material to the reservoir in the mold member and in thecontainer. It will be understood that the circuit diagram shown in FIG.15 is exemplary and other circuit arrangements may be used to accomplishthe sequence of steps described above.

In FIG. 16 an exemplary pneumatic system is shown in which a compressedair supply is connected to line and passed through a filter means 151for distribution through line 152, to rotary actuator 153 and to the airclamping cylinder 41. In each line 152 there may be provided an airpressure regulator 154 and an air gauge 155. The air line 152 leading tothe rotary actuator 153 passes through a four-way air valve 156 and isfed through a normally closed discharge port 157 to a line 158 leadingto a pneumatic lubricator 159 supplied by selected oil from an oilreservoir 160. Air from line 158 is discharged from the lubricator witha predetermined amount of lubricant therein through oil lines 161 and162 which permit reciprocal or alternate action of the rotary actuatorby the four-way valve 156 through a normally open port 163. Rotaryactuator 153 is of well known type and comprises air actuated rack andpinion means operably connected to one of stub shafts 23a on axis 23.Thus when air is traveling from 158 through the lubricator 159 andthrough line 158a to the actuator 153, check valve 161a will close, theactuator will rotate the article support frame in one direction and airexhausted from actuator 153 will enter the valve 156 through thenormally open port 163 and the check valve 162a will be in closedposition. Air entering valve 156 through port 163 will be exhaustedthrough line 165 through a muffler 166 and discharged to atmosphere.Actuation of four-way valve 156 to cause rotation of the article supportframe in the opposite direction will occur when air is introducedthrough port 163 and is exhausted through line 158a, 158, and port 157and from valve 156 to the exhaust line 165.

The ram means and ram cylinder 41 is actuated in somewhat similar mannerby introducing air from the other line 152 to a four-way valve 168having a normally closed port at 169 and a normally open port at 170which are connected by lines 171 and 172 to opposite ends of the ramcylinder 41. Line 171 is connected with lubricator 159 through line 173and a check valve 174. The rate movement of the ram head toward theplate supported on the mold member is regulated by valves 175 and 176connected with the discharge side of four-way valve 168 and alsoconnected to discharge line 177 leading to the muffler 166. Valves 175and 176 are adjusted relative to one another so that the rate ofapproach of the ram head to the dinner plate is controlled so thatcontact with the plate will not be too abrupt which might fracture theplate.

The apparatus described above provides means for supporting a piece ofgreen ceramic ware of frangible characteristics in a resilient yieldablefirm manner. Manual placement of the green ware on the mold member isreadily accomplished because of the concentric arrangement of thesupporting flange of the mold member with respect to the patterndefining face and the green ware to be decorated. The use of a pneumaticsystem for actuation of the ram means to cause the padded ram head todescend into firm contact with the back of the dinnerware and to thensoftly resiliently press the article surface 55 against the mold facewithout fracturing or cracking of the dinnerware is provided byregulator valve 154. The ultimate pressure placed upon the green warecloses the quarter to fivesixteenths inch space between the articlesurface 55 and the mold face in such a manner that the pattern de'fining edge 55 and the mold face in such a manner that the patterndefining edges of the mold face are firmly pressed against the articlesurface 55 in uniform sealing relation without endangering the integrityof the green ware. Thus the particular construction of the mold member,its annular supporting flange, and the resilient annulus which supportsthe flange provides a means for positioning and orienting the green warefor the decorating process with minimum danger to the green waresurfaces and body.

It is important to note that the colorant composition material which issupplied from the container and from the reservoir in the mold member isreadily flowable over the surfaces of the material of the mold memberand that the tendency of the composition material to stick to suchsurfaces of the mold member is minimized by the type of material used inthe mold member and in the composition material. When the articlesupport frame reverses the position of the green ware and the moldmember so that the composition material flows by gravity onto thepattern areas of the article surface 55, the flow of such material fromthe reservoir in the mold member is unimpeded to the openings defined bythe walls of the mold member and thus the composition material isdirectly immediately flowed onto and deposited on all of the exposedsealed-off areas of the article surface to be decorated. Since the moldmember has been inverted by rotation through I80", the flow of materialby gravity in the manifold cavity or chamber provides a relativelyuniform depth of glaze material covering the exposed article surfacearea being decorated. During such inversion, air is readily displaced.Air which might be trapped between the plate and the mold surface isreadily dissipated from the vent opening 91 into the porous character ofthe foam member 89. The composition material is permitted to contact thearticle surface area for a preselected length of time as set by thetimer 105, such time being sufficient to deposit a selected amount ofcomposition material on the surface. Upon flip-flopping of the articleand mold member to their initial position, the excess material adjacentthe pattern defining openings is virtually simultaneously drained awayand removed. The flow of material in such rotation through 180 alsopermits displacement of the air and composition material so that whenthe mold member and article reach their initial position, a quantity ofair will be adjacent the pattern defining openings. Then when thepressure is released according to the timer 106, the green wareseparates from the contact with the pattern defining edges by action ofthe resilient support member 89 and without the presence of vacuum.

It will be understood that an important feature of the present inventionis the providing of sealed-off areas to be decorated by means of a moldmember having an opening to designate such areas, the opening being incommunication with a supply of colorant composition material. Theflowable material is brought into contact with the area to be decoratedby gravitational flow of the material in the above-described embodimentby causing the reversal or flip-flop of the mold member and green ware.Colorant composition material may be brought into contact with suchdefined decorative areas by filling the cavities in communication withthe opening and then removing excess material by withdrawal thereof asby a suction hose. Such a modification is illustrated in FIG. 17 whereina plate 56, mold member 24 and cushioning pad 46 may be similar to thatof the above described embodiment of the invention. A spring means 89 issupported from a plate 39 which may also have bonded to it the moldmember 24 as above described. In FIG. 17 the parts are indicated inpressure relationship with the mold member 24 in sealed contact with thearticle surface to be decorated. In this example the pattern definingmeans are shown to provide a different pattern with sealed-off areas 200to be decorated being defined by cylindrical wall 201 of the mold memberand interior walls 202. In order to supply flowable colorant compositionmaterial to the cavity 203, such flowable material may be introducedthrough a tube 204 which may be connected to a pump and to a suitablesupply source of such colorant material. The colorant material is pumpedthrough tube 204 into the cavity 203 in a selected quantity sufficientto cover the article surface 200 to be decorated. The amount of materialto be pumped may be suitably regulated by a timing device of known make.After the colorant material has partially filled the cavity 203 to coverthe article surface to be decorated with a suitable thickness ofcolorant material, excess colorant material may be withdrawn from thecavity 203 as by a suction tube 205 which may be connected with asuitable suction pump not shown and which may also be connected to thesupply source of the colorant material. Excess material is thus returnedto the supply source of colorant material. In this embodiment, it willbe apparent that the flow of colorant material is direct and unimpededonto the article surface 200 and that the sealed relation of the moldmember with the article surface will define the pattern of the depositof the colorant material.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of the use of suchsealed-off areas to be decorated in communication with the cavitywherein a conduit containing flowable composition material may beinserted into the cavity and sprayed upwardly against the sealed-offareas to be decorated. Such an example of this invention is shown inFIG. 18 in which the sealedoff pressure relationship between the moldmember and plate are similar to that shown in FIGS. and 17 and forbrevity will not be further described in detail. In FIG. 18 the plate 56and mold member are positioned in such relationship that the articlesurface 210 to be decorated faces downwardly and opposite mold cavity211 and an opening 212 in the mold carrying plate 39. Through opening212 may be inserted a conduit 214 which may carry flowable colorantcomposition material under pressure so that the colorant material may besprayed as indicated at 215 onto the article surface 210 to bedecorated. Suitable nozzles or spray heads may be used to obtain thedesired uniformity or irregularity of coverage of the article surface210. It will be apparent that excess material which does not cling tothe article surface 210 will fall by gravity to the bottom of the cavityand may drain therefrom through any suitable drain device, in thisexample indicated as inclined surfaces 216 leading to opening 212. Itwill be understood that the drainage may be at a different location thanopening 212 and other suitable drainage means may be provided. Excessmaterial is returned to the supply source of the colorant compositionmaterial.

Since one of the basic features of the present invention is the directunimpeded contact of the glaze composition material with the area to bedecorated, it will be understood that a predetermined amount of suchmaterial may be applied by filling a cavity whose edges are spaced ashort distance from the surface of the article to be decorated so thatthe flowable material may spread by capillary action in said space.After this is accomplished, the excess material may be withdrawn fromthe cavity by any convenient means as by removal by suction or byturning the cavity and the article upside-down.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above-describedmethod and apparatus provides for the application of a thick liquidslurry on an article by use of a mold member of soft elastomericmaterial having internal cavities with openings defining the pattern tobe applied to the article. Such method of applying the flow material mayreadily be timed to create a raised or embossed-like pattern either forfunctional or decorative purposes. Application of the desired patternmay be made to a porous or non-porous or vitreous article, may be madedirectly onto an article surface, and the surface may then be finishedin normal manner as by overglazing and firing. It will be readilyapparent that the advantages of this method and apparatus are availablein using various other decorating materials, paints, inks, stains, orgranular materials as ceramic or plastic and the like that may or maynot be subsequentially partly or fully melted and thereby create manydifferent decorative effects. It will also be understood that thedecorating materials used may or may not chemically or physically reactwith prior or subsequent layers of the base material or of otherdecorating materials.

The invention also contemplates the direct application of colorantcomposition material or colored engobes directly upon the surface of aplaster mold which may include either a jigger mold, a slip castingmold, or pressing mold and the like. Such a plaster mold may take theplace of the green ware plate 56 in the prior examples of the inventionand colorant material deposited by the method and apparatus of thisinvention upon the surface of such a plaster mold. The plaster mold isthen removed from the apparatus of this invention with the patterndefined thereon by the deposited colorant composition material. Theplaster mold may then be placed on a jigger device and a piece of waremade upon the jigger so that the surface of the ware as it is being madeon the jigger device will include the colorant material in itsdecorative pattern. When the jiggering of the ware is complete and theware is removed from the plaster mold, the deposited colorant materialwill appear as a decorative colored inlay in the surface of the ware.The ware may then be finished in usual manner including firing andapplication of overglaze composition material. It should be noted thatin such a method of creating an inlay design in an article surface, thatthe colorant composition material deposited upon the plaster mold wouldbe readily released from its surface contact with the plaster mold. Inthis respect, the flow of the colorant material during firing may beenhanced or restricted by its composition depending upon the desireddecorative effect.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the mehtod andapparatus of this invention described above and which may come withinthe spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications areembraced by the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for depositing a flowable thick composition material fordecorative purposes on a surface of an article, comprising:

a frame structure including spaced upright standards;

an article support frame pivotally mounted on and between said spacedstandards;

a removable plate on the article support frame;

a flexible elastomeric mold. member fixed on said plate and including asurface generally corresponding to the surface of the article to bedecorated;

said mold member having pattern defining edges forming an opening insaid mold surface and having a chamber in communication with a supply ofglaze composition material and said opening;

a ram carried by the article support frame in spaced relation to saidmold member;

said ram having a soft yieldable pad for pressure engagement with anarticle aligned with said mold surface;

and operable means advancing said ram toward said mold surface andurging said soft yieldable pad carried by said ram into pressureengagement with an article and the article into tight sealing relationwith the pattern defining means on said mold surface;

said operable means including means for rotating said article supportframe with said mold member and ram thereon to invert the relativepositions of said mold member and the article carried thereby wherebysaid supply of composition material is flowable into contact with thearea of said surface defined by said pattern defining means;

said article support frame, mold member, and ram being rotable back totheir initial positions to remove undeposited composition material fromthe openings on said mold member defined by said pattern defining edges.

2. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said operable meansincludes timing means for holding said mold member and article surfacein sealed relation for a preselected period of time for deposit of saidcomposition material and for returning said mold member and articlesurface to their initial position after a selected time period.

3. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 including:

a resilient support member for said article.

4. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said mold memberincludes means for aligning and registering an article with respect tosaid mold member.

5. In an apparatus as stated in claim 4 wherein said aligning andregistering means includes a flexible annular flange with an upturnedannular lip thereon.

6. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 including means providing a ventopening in said mold member.

7. In an apparatus as stated in claim 5 wherein said mold surfaceincludes a configured surface portion generally corresponding to theconfiguration of the article surface to which the glaze compositionmaterial is to be applied.

8. ln an apparatus as stated in claim 7 wherein the spacing between thearticle surface and said mold member configured surface progessivelyincreases radially outwardly to control and expel air to the annularspace between said flexible annular flange and said article surface.

9. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 includiing "composition materialsupply containers attached to the side said plate opposite to said moldmember and in communication with said mold chamber through said plate.

10. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said pattern definingmeans includes a plurality of openings of selected configuration;

a plurality of chambers in communication with selected openings;

said chambers containing different colorant composition material.

11. In an apparatus as stated in claim 10 wherein said plurality ofchambers maintain a supply source of colorant composition material inclose proximity to said openings of said pattern defining means.

12. In an apparatus for decorating a surface of an article comprising:

means including a resilient mold member for defining a decorativepattern for an article surface; means for retaining the article withsaid article surface in sealed registry with said pattern defining meansto provide unsealed pattern surface areas; means including cavities insaid mold member confining and supplying a flowable composition materialto said unsealed pattern surface areas; and operable means to causecomposition material to flow into contact with said unsealed surfaceareas for a selected time period while said article and pattern definingmeans are in sealed registry;

said operable means including means for carrying said mold member andsaid retaining means in vertical relationship;

and means pivotally mounting said carrying means for reversing thevertical relationship of said mold member and retaining means to causeflow of said composition material. 13. In an apparatus for decorating asurface of an article comprising:

means including a resilient mold member for defining a decorativepattern for an article surface; means for retaining the article withsaid article surface in sealed registry with said pattern defining meansto provide unsealed pattern surface areas; said retaining meansincluding foam material for resiliently yieldably supporting saidarticle; means including cavities in said mold member confining andsupplying a flowable composition material to said unsealed patternsurface areas; operable means to cause said composition material to flowinto contact with said unsealed surface areas for a selected time periodwhile said article and pattern defining means are in sealed registry;and means for causing the flowable composition material in said cavitiesto move away from said pattern defining means, the composition materialin contact with said unsealed surface areas forming a deposit thereon.14. In an apparatus for decorating a surface of an article comprising:

means including a resilient mold member for defining a decorativepattern for an article surface; means for retaining the article withsaid article surface in sealed registry with said pattern defining meansto provide unsealed pattern surface areas; means including cavities insaid mold member confining and supplying flowable composition materialto said unsealed pattern surface area; operable means to cause saidcomposition material to flow into contact with said unsealed surfaceareas for a selected time period while said article and pattern definingmeans are in sealed registry; means for causing the flowable compositionmaterial in said cavities to move away from said pattern defining means,the composition material in contact with said unsealed surface areasforming a deposit thereon; and means for timing the period during whichthe article and pattern defining means are in sealed registry. 15. in anapparatus for decorating a surface of an article comprising:

means including a resilient mold member for defining a decorativepattern for an article surface; means for retaining the article withsaid article surface in sealed registry with said pattern defining meansto provide unsealed pattern surface areas; means including cavities insaid mold member confining and supplying a flowable composition materialto said unsealed pattern surface areas; said cavities in said moldmember including a partition wall forming part of said pattern definingmeans, said partition wall having a height less than the depth of thecavity; operable means to cause said composition material to flow intocontact with said unsealed surface areas for a selected time periodwhile said article and pattern defining means are in sealed registry;and means for causing the flowable composition material in said cavitiesto move away from said pattern defining means,

18 flow into contact with said unsealed surface areas for a selectedtime period while said article and pattern defining means are in sealedregistry; means for causing the flowable composition material in saidcavities to move away from said pattern defining means, the compositionmaterial in contact with said unsealed surface areas forming a depositthereon; and vent means in said mold member for flow of air entrappedbetween said article and portions of said mold member.

1. An apparatus for depositing a flowable thick composition material fordecorative purposes on a surface of an article, comprising: a framestructure including spaced upright standards; an article support framepivotally mounted on and between said spaced standards; a removableplate on the article support frame; a flexible elastomeric mold memberfixed on said plate and including a surface generally corresponding tothe surface of the article to be decorated; said mold member havingpattern defining edges forming an opening in said mold surface andhaving a chamber in communication with a supply of glaze compositionmaterial and said opening; a ram carried by the article support frame inspaced relation to said mold member; said ram having a soft yieldablepad for pressure engagement with an article aligned with said moldsurface; and operable means advancing said ram toward said mold surfaceand urging said soft yieldable pad carried by said ram into pressureengagement with an article and the article into tight sealing relationwith the pattern defining means on said mold surface; said operablemeans including means for rotating said article support frame with saidmold member and ram thereon to invert the relative positions of saidmold member and the article carried thereby whereby said supply ofcomposition material is flowable into contact with the area of saidsurface defined by said pattern defining means; said article supportframe, mold member, and ram being rotable back to their initialpositions to remove undeposited composition material from the openingson said mold member defined by said pattern defining edges.
 2. In anapparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said operable means includestiming means for holding said mold member and article surface in sealedrelation for a preselected period of time for deposit of saidcomposition material and for returning said mold member and articlesurface to their initial position after a selected time period.
 3. In anapparatus as stated in claim 1 including: a resilient support member forsaid article.
 4. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said moldmember includes means for aligning and registering an article withrespect to said mold member.
 5. In an apparatus as stated in claim 4wherein said aligning and registering means includes a flexible annularflange with an upturned annular lip thereon.
 6. In an apparatus asstated in claim 1 including means providing a vent opening in said moldmember.
 7. In an apparatus as stated in claim 5 wherein said moldsurface includes a configured surface portion generally corresponding tothe configuration of the article surface to which the glaze compositionmaterial is to be applied.
 8. In an apparatus as stated in claim 7wherein the spacing between the article surface and said mold memberconfigured surface progessively increases radially outwardly to controland expel air to the annular space between said flexible annular flangeand said article surface.
 9. In an apparatus as stated in claim 1includiing composition material supply containers attached to the sidesaid plate opposite to said mold member and in communication with saidmold chamber through said plate.
 10. In an apparatus as stated in claim1 wherein said pattern defining means includes a plurality of openingsof selected configuration; a plurality of chambers in communication withselected openings; said chambers containing different colorantcomposition material.
 11. In an apparatus as stated in claim 10 whereinsaid plurality of chambers maintain a supply source of colorantcomposition material in close proximity to said openings of said patterndefining means.
 12. In an apparatus for decorating a surface of anarticle comprising: means including a resilient mold member for defininga decorative pattern for an article surface; means for retaining thearticle with said article surface in sealed registry with said patterndefining means to provide unsealed pattern surface areas; meansincluding cavities in said mold member confining and supplying aflowable composition material to said unsealed pattern surface areas;and operable means to cause composition material to flow into contactwith said unsealed surface areas for a selected time period while saidarticle and pattern defining means are in sealed registry; said operablemeans including means for carrying said mold member and said retainingmeans in vertical relationship; and means pivotally mounting saidcarrying means for reversing the vertical relationship of said moldmember and retaining means to cause flow of said composition material.13. In an apparatus for decorating a surface of an article comprising:means including a resilient mold member for defining a decorativepattern for an article surface; means for retaining the article withsaid article surface in sealed registry with said pattern defining meansto provide unsealed pattern surface areas; said retaining meansincluding foam material for resiliently yieldably supporting saidarticle; means including cavities in said mold member confining andsupplying a flowable composition material to said unsealed patternsurface areas; operable means to cause said composition material to flowinto contact with said unsealed surface areas for a selected time periodwhile said article and pattern defining means are in sealed registry;and means for causing the flowable composition material in said cavitiesto move away from said pattern defining means, the composition materialin contact with said unsealed surface areas forming a deposit thereon.14. In an apparatus for decorating a surface of an article comprising:means including a resilient mold member for defining a decorativepattern for an article surface; means for retaining the article withsaid article surface in sealed registry with said pattern defining meansto provide unsealed pattern surface areas; means including cavities insaid mold member confining and supplying flowable composition materialto said unsealed pattern surface area; operable means to cause saidcomposition material to flow into contact with said unsealed surfaceareas for a selected time period while said article and pattern definingmeans are in sealed registry; means for causing the flowable compositionmaterial in said cavities to move away from said pattern defining means,the composition material in contact with said unsealed surface areasforming a deposit thereon; and means for timing the period during whichthe article and pattern defining means are in sealed registry.
 15. In anapparatus for decorating a surface of an article comprising: meansincluding a resilient mold member for defining a decorative pattern foran article surface; means for retaining the article with said articlesurfacE in sealed registry with said pattern defining means to provideunsealed pattern surface areas; means including cavities in said moldmember confining and supplying a flowable composition material to saidunsealed pattern surface areas; said cavities in said mold memberincluding a partition wall forming part of said pattern defining means,said partition wall having a height less than the depth of the cavity;operable means to cause said composition material to flow into contactwith said unsealed surface areas for a selected time period while saidarticle and pattern defining means are in sealed registry; and means forcausing the flowable composition material in said cavities to move awayfrom said pattern defining means, the composition material in contactwith said unsealed surface areas forming a deposit thereon.
 16. In anapparatus for decorating a surface of an article comprising: meansincluding a resilient mold member for defining a decorative pattern foran article surface; means for retaining the article with said articlesurface in sealed registry with said pattern defining means to provideunsealed pattern surface areas; means including cavities in said moldmember confining and supplying a flowable composition material to saidunsealed pattern surface areas; operable means to cause said compositionmaterial to flow into contact with said unsealed surface areas for aselected time period while said article and pattern defining means arein sealed registry; means for causing the flowable composition materialin said cavities to move away from said pattern defining means, thecomposition material in contact with said unsealed surface areas forminga deposit thereon; and vent means in said mold member for flow of airentrapped between said article and portions of said mold member.